Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Primordiality of global solidarity

By Ioan Voicu - posted Thursday, 24 December 2020


Even in the current highly fragmented and chaotic world, a diplomatic initiative launched in May 2020 by 120 members of the Non-aligned Movement could not be ignored by the United Nations (UN) and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) through the valuable efforts of its President Volkan Bozkir decided for the first time in the history of the world organisation to convene a special session dedicated to winning the war against an invisible enemy Covid-19.

This session which took place in New York on 3-4 and 7 December 2020 was unique for several reasons. First of all because it was conducted in a fully virtual manner, it had a nearly universal participation, with highest level of representation of most countries, including heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs, ministers of health, a large participation of UN agencies and bodies in front with the World Health Organization (WHO).Also present were many experts with great reputation in the field of health.According to the speakers list, there were 141 speakers inscribed, including 53 heads of state, 39 heads of government, four deputy prime ministers and 38 ministers.

Diplomatic maturity

Advertisement

The session illustrated an increasing diplomatic maturity of member states which was demonstrated by many responsible assessments about the collective fight against Covid-19 and by some specific proposals advanced for further action.

The deliberations showed also ,at least intellectually, a strong collective wish to learn from the mistakes of the past, including first of all from the tragic lessons, not yet fully assimilated ,provided by the unforgettable pandemic of 1918 .At the same time, the session launched a general call to be solidary, not egoistic, to be innovative and not conservative and to have confidence in the potential of the scientific world community.

Multilateralism

Moreover, the session reaffirmed the value of multilateralism and the reality of unavoidable interdependence at the global level. But one of the most important conclusions was the clear recognition that the key for transforming the interdependence into a great opportunity for positive action is by accepting at the planetary level the imperative nature of global solidarity.

We will provide a few examples in these pages related to the duty of solidarity as an imperative prerequisite for successfully fighting Covid-19 which has generated a multi-vectorial crisis at the global level.

Best line of defense

Advertisement

In the opinion of Volkan Bozkir, the UNGA President, 2020 was the year of Covid-19 in which "solidarity was our first and best line of defense, as Member States united, to combat this existential threat to humanity". In the view of the WHO , "With 65 million infected and 1.5 million deaths, the health crisis is global, but not all countries have responded or been affected equally. Responses involving solidarity and sacrifice show the virus can be tamed and stopped, but where there is self-interest, the virus thrives and spread".

Indeed, it is not only the greatest global health crisis since the UN creation 75 years ago, but it is also a humanitarian, socio-economic, security and human rights crisis, making it a multi-vectorial crisis. This is the reason many speakers urged that the most effective means to mitigate the Covid-19 crisis is through global solidarity and cooperation.

Some representatives condemned efforts to politicize issues surrounding the pandemic, including that of vaccination, as such actions do not demonstrate solidarity and delay the implementation of life-saving measures. All countries must act in solidarity to strengthen the global health system under the leadership of WHO and with support by all relevant UN agencies.

More specifically , one representative warned against all forms of "vaccine nationalism", and said developing a vaccine should not become "a new race to the moon". He called for solidarity in the form of "early, fair and affordable access to vaccines".

Asian voices

Interesting ideas have been expressed in the same context by representatives of Asian countries.

Philippines asserted that " Now is the time to further strengthen our networks of solidarity and cooperation…. the time is now for greater collective courage and meaningful actions to see the end of this pandemic. With the path clear, we see how far we can go working with each other and how much we can achieve, when we act - not as separate nations - but as one humanity".

Thailand underlined that "a commitment to the multilateral system and the solidarity of the international community are the keys to overcoming this crisis in a sustainable manner. As for Thailand and ASEAN member countries, we have put in place robust mechanisms to fight the Covid-19 pandemic through various initiatives such as the Covid-19 ASEAN Response Fund, the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, and the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases. These initiatives will promote health security, support sustainable recovery and enhance the region's resilience and immunity for the long-term".

As the 2020 ASEAN Chair, Viet Nam believed that "the international community will emerge triumphant by harnessing the will and power of each nation, and strengthening our solidarity and cooperation".

The representative of Singapore stressed in his national statement the relevance of vaccine multilateralism and the work of the COVAX Facility and asked what can be done to ensure early vaccine access for vulnerable countries and how those countries can prepare to receive vaccines.

Malaysia declared that "Our national measures must be supported by a concerted global effort. Interdependency and solidarity must be the order of the day; in the name of our joint destiny, our shared humanity, and the value of our common hope".

In 2021, Brunei Darussalam will be the Chairman of ASEAN and announced that it will continue to coordinate both national and regional endeavors to respond to the Covid-19 crisis and minimize its consequences, contributing to the overall global effort. More specifically, as far as ASEAN and its partners are concerned, their leaders have responded to the alarming situation and put into effect timely measures to collectively respond to Covid-19, as well as address the profound impacts on that region. In this regard, ASEAN has also taken the very first steps to initiate a 'travel bubble', to encourage a revival in the region and to promote safe travel once again, built upon bilateral 'Green Lane Arrangements'. While being cognizant of public health safety and the wellbeing of our people, there is hope to see business and economic stability and recovery in the ASEAN region soon.

The statement of the representative of China was symbolically entitled Reinforce Global Cooperation with Renewed Solidarity to Defeat COVID-19 and contained inter alia the assertion that "We hope that all parties will focus on the issue at hand, strengthen solidarity and expand consensus to reinforce cooperation".

A significant proposal

The most significant proposal advanced during the 31st UNGA special session was introduced by Charles Michel, President of the European Council. He announced first that the EU intends to play its part in facilitating the equitable distribution of vaccines through donations of part of the doses purchased by its member states. "The success as regards vaccines is the result of mobilization and of international solidarity. With a view to possible future pandemics, we now need to build on this approach, structuring our collective capacity to anticipate, prepare for and manage such crises. I propose that we do so through an international treaty on pandemics". (italics added)

In the opinion of the EU "Such a treaty should be agreed within the framework of the World Health Organization, which is the cornerstone of international cooperation against pandemics: it would complement and reinforce our action. The other international organizations and agencies concerned should also be involved. What should the objective of this treaty be? The objective is to do better. To do better in all the areas in which we have observed that we need to reinforce our cooperation".

Some of these areas have been further specified by Charles Michel including : Monitor the risks more effectively; Better finance and coordinate research; Alert and share information more effectively; Improve access to healthcare.

The ideas formulated in connection with the above mentioned areas " could serve as pointers in negotiating this international treaty on pandemics". The EU conclusion is a strong appeal: " Let us mobilize, pool our experiences, learn the lessons, and take the right decisions so that we help make the world and humanity more just and more resilient".

While some journalists wrote ironically about "creaking multilateralism" when dealing with the UNGA special session, some observers noticed that with the exception of European Council President Charles Michel proposal of a global pandemic treaty, modeled after the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control - the leaders' pre-recorded video speeches at this session mostly rehashed 2020 breakthroughs and regrets.

Universalization of the right to health

The proposal for negotiating a global pandemic treaty,- a multilateral legal instrument which would contribute to the universalization of the right to health- is a highly valuable initiative. In this regard, on the basis of previous experiences, it should be reminded that the finalization of such a treaty could be better achieved, in a more accelerated manner, by establishing a special UN working group composed of representatives from all geographical regions and empowered with an appropriate mandate.

With reference to a similar experience , it is useful to remind that the WHO negotiations of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control started in 1995 and the Convention entered into force only on 27 February 2005.

Just a noble ideal ?

Meanwhile, nobody should minimize the fact that the world leaders participating virtually in the UNGA special session clearly demanded in December 2020 urgent multilateral action to guarantee equitable distribution of life-saving vaccines in the global fight against Covid-19 on the basis of solidarity.

While emphasizing all these ideas, it is necessary to keep in mind that the session has not addressed an abstract appeal, but strongly invited the world community of nations to specific actions to convert the duty of solidarity into a tangible reality at the global level.

However, because political fragmentation is present and visible not only at the global level, but also at the national and even local levels, during the current times genuine solidarity remains in many circumstances just a noble ideal, while in fact it is expected to play a primordial role in the daily struggle against a devastating pandemic.

This situation should not, however, lead to fatalism, but, on the contrary, should inspire more robust and permanent efforts to give real tangibility to the value of solidarity.

On 14 December 2020 the UNGA adopted the annual resolution entitled "Global health and foreign policy: strengthening health system resilience through affordable health care for all." By its terms, the UNGA urged member states to strengthen national systems through ensuring affordable health care for all and called upon them to strengthen their resilience as an integral part of their preparedness for related emergencies. More specifically, it also called upon member states to support funding for the Access to COVID‑19 Tools Accelerator (ACT‑Accelerator), as well as the equitable distribution of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

Introducing this resolution, Indonesia reminded that access to quality and affordable health care for everyone and everywhere is an essential priority for international development. Global solidarity and unity on this issue is more important than ever before.

In this respect, the celebration on 20 December 2020 of the International Human Solidarity Day represented an additional auspicious occasion to intensify collective action to win the war against Covid-19 and bring humanity closer to the universal recognition of the primordiality of global solidarity.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

10 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Dr Ioan Voicu is a Visiting Professor at Assumption University in Bangkok

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Ioan Voicu

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Ioan Voicu
Article Tools
Comment 10 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy